News

Heather Nelson appointed to UA-PTC Board of Visitors

The appointment of Heather R. Nelson of North Little Rock to the UA-PTC Board of Visitors was announced by Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Jan. 27. Her term extends until June 1, 2028.

Ms. Nelson replaces Emily Jordan Cox, whose term expired in 2021.

For nearly two decades, Nelson had a career in corporate lending for some of the largest banks in the nation. In 2012 she co-founded SEAL Corporation in North Little Rock, where she serves as president of the organization. Seal Solar’s mission is to promote energy independence through solar and storage to homes, businesses, and organizations throughout the region.

Under the team’s leadership, Seal Solar has completed more than 700, or approximately one in five, renewable energy projects in the state. Thanks to an innovative partnership with Evolve Auto, it is now one of the only businesses in the U.S. that is able to provide fully solar-powered ecosystems, including panels, batteries, electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and EVs, in one transaction. Nelson is chairperson for the Arkansas Advanced Energy Association (AAEA) board of directors and recently completed a semester as an adjunct professor at the University of Arkansas.

Ms. Nelson holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in marketing management with an emphasis in entrepreneurial management from the Walton College and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She is an experienced entrepreneur, speaker, writer, photographer, and strategic visionary who utilizes her unique experiences to connect people and inspire them to change the world around them. She was named four times as one of the 250 most influential Arkansans by Arkansas Business.

“As an Arkansan and someone who has worked with the college in the past it is an honor to get to work more closely with UA-PTC,” said Nelson. “I believe in the importance of two-year colleges in workforce development and I love the mission of this college. I’m excited to get started.”

In addition to Ms. Nelson’s service on the College Board of Visitors, Ms. Nelson is on the Arkansas Advanced Energy Association Board of Directors, UA Little Rock Foundation Fund Board of Directors, Arkansas History Commission, The Excel Center at Goodwill School Advisory Council, and the Arkansas Advanced Energy Association Distributed Generation Task Force.

She also travels to Haiti regularly, championing global efforts to reduce the need for orphanages and economic orphans through job creation and economic development.

“Heather is an exemplary business and civic leader in Arkansas," stated UA-PTC Chancellor Margaret Ellibee. "Her experience and dedication to the community will offer tremendous insight to our college.”